Production of artificial silk

ABSTRACT

268,455. Courtaulds, Ltd., Glover, W. H., and Topham, C. F. Jan. 7, 1926. Spinning machines; spinning machines with twisting- arrangements at delivery; connecting continuously delivered material to the winding- means; spindle apparatus; moistening and sizing. - A dry-spun thread of artificial silk is wound in a centrifugal spinning box, and the end is introduced into the latter by means of a current of air or other gas. Thus, the thread A after passing round a godet B, is led through a guide a&lt;1&gt; to a groove d formed in the down-turned, end of a pipe D, and from this point it is returned to the godet, so forming a loop C; the end of the tube D is immediately above the guide funnel E of a spinning box F, such as that described in Specifioation 23158/00; in order to introduce the thread into the box, the tube D is given a sharp downward movement so as to break the loop and at the same time a current of air is passed through the tube so as to blow the end of the thread down the guide E into the box F. It is convenient to moisten the thread on its way to the spinning- box by passage over a damped brush, and the thread may also be sized as by passage over a moistened surface or through a brush. The cake may be removed bodily from the box preferably after heating for a short time. Alternatively, the thread may be wound out of the box preferably through the funnel E, which is then preferably held stationary with its end opposite the centre of the cake; during winding off, the box F may be held stationary or it may rotate, in which latter case an additional twist may be put on the thread.

April 10, 1928. 1,665,958

' w. H. GLOVER ET AL PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL SILK 1 Filed Oct. 29. 1926 INVENTORS Mlter Hamis G/ Charles Fred Top/mm 85 :72 air Attorneys Patented Apr. 10,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER HAHIS GLOVER, F LEAMINGTON, 'AND CHARLES FRED TOPHAM, OF COV- ENTRY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO COURTAULDS LIMITED, 01' LONDON, ENGLAND.

PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL SIIJK.

Application filed October 29, ,1926, Serial No. 144,994, and in Great Britain January 7, 1926.

.5 lulose ether is dissolved in a volatile solvent and the solution is then passed through a jet or drawplate containing the requisite number of holes into a space containing warm air or other gas whereby the solvent is volatilized leaving the cellulose compound in the form of filaments; As an example of such process may be mentioned the spinning of a solution of cellulose acetate in acetone into a space containing warm air.

In the method of producing artificial filaments from celluloseacetate by the-dry spinning process, as hitherto practised, the filaments, issuing from the holes in the jet have been led on in association through and out of the chamber containing warm air, and have then been wound up in the form of a thread onto a bobbin either directly or with "the interposition of a twisting device.

According toiour invention we have found that a thread of artificial silk obtained by the process of dr spinning can be collected and twisted simu taneously by means of the centrifugal action of a spinning box rotating at high speed.

In carrying out this invention, the thread which leaves the spinnin chamber is preferably passed round a elivery roller, and then into the spinning box, with a reciprocating funnel; as describedfor example in the specification of British Letters Patent No. 23,158, A. D. 1900, in order to distribute the thread evenly in the box, unless the said .box is comparatively shallow, in which case the funnel can be dispensed with. It is generally preferred to moisten the thread slightly, before it reaches the spinning box, and this-can be efiected by passing the thread over a brush, which is kept damp. This assists the introduction ofvthe thread into the box and also helps to keep the thread in correct position and to form a satisfactory cake. If desired, the thread can'be sized on its way to thespi'nning box, by passing it over a suitable surface, or through a brush, which is maintained moistened-with a solution of size such, for instance, as a dilute solution of gelatine. It is, of course, desirable to remove the sized thread from the box before the size has set sufliciently to bind the different coils of thread together.

eutered the box.

The introduction of the first end of the thread into the spinning box can be effected in anysuitable manner. For example, as is shewn diagrammatically'in the accompany ing drawing, as the thread A, which is being delivered at a comparatively rapid speed of say 120 yards or more per minute, is taken up by or passes over one or more of the rollers B, a loop C of the said thread A can be led, by thread guide a over a smooth groove at out across one end of a pipe or tube D, to the other end of which is attached meansfor blowing a current of air or other gas through the said tube. The tube is held with the end thereof across which the thread passes adjacent to the reciprocating funnel E, so that when a sharp downward movement is given to the said tube D the loop of thread is broken and a current of air-being passed along the tube from the other end, the broken, end of the thread which is con tinuous with the thread delivered from the spinnin chamber is blown down the funnel E into the spinning box F. The thread which follows from the delivery roller continues passing down the funnel, and the process is allowed to continue, until the box F is sufficiently full.

The thread can be taken out of the box in any convenient manner but unless the cake be subjected to some specialtreatment while in the box as hereinafter described it is generaily preferred not to take the cake of thread out as a whole, in the manner which s practised when collecting wet-spun viscose,

or cuprannnonium artificial silk in a centrifugal box, but to leave the cake in the box, and draw out the thread singly, preferably through the funnel E, through which it In this case, however, the funnel is preferably not allowed to reciprocate, but is maintained in one position, such that the lower end thereof is situated. about opposite to the center of the cake. The thread may be then withdrawn from thebox either while thebox is stationary, or while it is rotating, and in this latter case, the advantage is obtained of puttin an additional twistv onto the thread. If owever, the box, withthe cake in it, be heated for a short time, for instance, in the case of an aluminium box, for about ten minutes at 70 centigrade, the cake can then be easily removed from the box, while still retaining its original shape, and the thread can be wound off from the outside of the cake onto a reel =or bobbin.

What we claim is:-

1. The production of artificial silk by passing a solution of a cellulose ester of an organic acid, or a cellulose ether in a volatile solvent through a jet or drawplate into a space containing warm air or other gas, whereby the solvent is volatilized leaving the cellulosecompound in the form of filaments, then. leading the filaments in asociat-ion from the warm space and collecting them in a rapidly rotating spinning box.

2. In the production of artificial silk according to the foregoin first claiming clauseythemethod of introducing the end of the thread into the rapidly rotating box by blowing it in with a current of air or other gas.

3. The production of artificial silk by passing a solution of a cellulose ester of an organic acid, or a cellulose ether in a volatile solvent through a jet or drawplate into a space contaimng warm air or other gas,

whereby the solvent is volatilizcd, leaving the cellulose compound in the form of filaments, then leading the filaments in association from the warm space, passing a 100 of the running thread, the ends of which oop are on the delivery roller, over a smooth groove out in the end of a tube, placing this end of the said tube adjacent to the recipgoeating tunnel of a rotating spinning x,

giving a sharp downward movement to the said tube and simultaneously passin a current of air or other gas through t e tube, whereby the thread is broken and the end thereof is caused to pass down the funnel into the box;

4. The production of artificial silk bvv slightly moistening the filaments and collect- "ing them in a rapidly rotating spinning box.

5. The production of artificial silk by passing a solution of a cellulose ester of an organic acid, or a cellulose ether in a volatile solvent through a jet or drawplate into a space containing warm air or other gas, whereby the solvent is volatilized, leaving the cellulose compound in the form of fila-- ments, then leading the filaments inassociation from the warm space and collecting them in a rapidly rotating spinning box, then applying suitable heat to the box containing the cake of thread in order to facilitate the removal of the cake from the-box.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

WALTER HAMIS GLOVER. CHA RLES FRED TOPHAM. 

